Hand loom



Aug- 19, 1941- M. o. GALLINGER 2,253,329

HAND LOOM Filed May 13, 1938 v l i FA rn I M yvq 6r?? Patented Aug. 19,1941 HAND LOOM Mimo. Gauinge, Hartland, Mich., assignor to J. RobertCrouse, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application May 13, 1938, Serial No.207,690

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in looms and particularly loomsof the hand-operated type. l

A major object of the invention is to provide a heddle harness ofextremely simple, `compact and inexpensive construction and which issusceptible of easy and. rapid manual manipulation both in threadinglthe loom and in weaving.

Another objectlof the invention is to provide a combined reed and combof improved construction.

A further object of the invention isto provide a hand-operated loom ofthe type` in `which the4 warp is wound around the rectangular frame ofthe loom and 'in which the frame structure is adjustable in length andhas an improved construction facilitating both assembly of the structureand operation of the loom in weaving. m

Other objects of the invention more or less incidental or ancillary tothe foregoing will appear as the descriptionproceeds.

With the notedobjects in View the invention consists in various featuresof construction,` arrangements and combinations of parts which will bepointed out and explained with ref erenceto a loom of preferred formyshown in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, i

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the main parts` of a loom embodying myimprovements.

rig. 2 is a vertical Section on the une 2 2 or Figi `1.

Fig.` 3 is a vertical section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. A: is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5 is a frontelevationgof the combined beater and comb ofthe loom, thetop bar of thedevice being partially removed `and a portion of the structure beingbroken away to disclose details of the construction. i

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective View showing one of theheddlebarsand the looped heddle cord for raising certain of the warp threadsto make the shed inthe weaving operation.

The handloomshown in th-e drawing is of the type having a `rectangularframe laround which the warp thread is continuouslywound, therotatablewarp and cloth beams of the older forms of construction being replacedby lrigidly` g fixed beams constituting the end bars of the rectangularframe. H H

Referring in detail to the construction shown in the drawing, thenumeral I designates: the

frame structure of the loom in its entirety,` said structurelbeingpreferably formed of wood. This frame structure comprises a `rearcross bar 2 serving as the rear or warp beam of the loom, forwardlyextending side bars 3, 3 rigidly attached to the rear beam 2 as byscrews 4, 4, a front or cloth beam 5, and rearwardly extending side bars6, 6 rigidly connected tothe beam 5 by screws 'I, l. The side bars 6, 6are slidably engaged by the side bars 3, 3 and the two pairs of bars areformed, respectively, with mutually engaging tongues 6a andgrooves 3aand said bars are disengageab-ly clamped in adjusted position inrelation to eachother by a strut or spaofing bar 8 and tension rod 9.The strut 8 extends across the frame I with its ends engaging the inner'sides of bars 3, 3 and is slotted lengthwise (Fig. `2) to receive rod9. Said rod extends through a slot 3b in each bar `3 and throughtransverse holes in bars 6, 6. The threaded ends of rod 9 are i`1ttedwith wing nuts 9a, 9a which can readily be manipulated to loosen thetension rod and permit adjustment of the length of the rectangular frameformed by the beams 2', 5 and side bars 3, 6, endwise movement of bars3, 3 relative to rod Q being permittedr by the elongated slots 3b, 3b. L

As the framel, in the operation of the loom, is designed to rest 'upon`a table orl the Vlike it is tted with feet I0, mand II,`II. The feet I,Ill are secured by screws 10a.; Illa to beam 2 and the feet II, II byscrews Ila, IIb to side bars 6 and beam 5. Y m To facilitate the equallengthwise adjustment of the two sides of frame I, I form, as with asuitable stamping or printing di-e, a vmeasuring scale 3c on each ofthebars 3, said scales vbeing ar-y ranged as shown in Fig. l so that theirgraduations come adjacent the rear ends ofthe frame bars 6, 6. Inaddition eachside of frame I is fitted with a threaded rodl2 which isiixedly secured at its rear end to foot I0 and has its front part4supported in a slotted bar I3 secured by screws I4, I4 to the underside of bar 6 (Figs. 2 and 4). A wing nut I5 is mounted on each rod I2to bear against the rear end of bar I3 and by use of the wing nuts it iseasy to adjust the two sides of the frame I accurately to the samelength, whereupon by tightening on-e of the wing nuts Sq, the sides offrame I are tightly clamped in' adjusted position.

Toiacilitate weaving operations, as later explained, theframe I isprovided with a transverse scale bar I6 at its front end and with asimilar bar I1 at its rear end. These bars are graduated in inches withzero in the center of the frame and read from zero upward both to theleft and the right, as shown in Fig. 1.

The frame structure of the loom further ccmprises two heddle barstandards I8, I8, one of which is rigidly mounted on top of the rear endof each of the side bars 5, I5, the standards being secured to the sidebars by screws I9, I9. Each standard I8 comprises a main body part Iaand a top cap member Ib secured to the body Ia by screws 20, 28. in theform of a rectangular wood block which may readily be formed from boardsof suitable width and thickness. The block Ia of each standard is formedwith four vertical transverse slots I8c, |80 to support heddle bars 2 I,2l which are preferably in the form of straight bars of metal fitted atboth ends with grips 22, 22 in the form of sections of rubber tubingwhich are pressed over the ends of the bars and frictionally heldthereon. The grips 22 serve the additional function of holding theheddle bars against endwise displacement from the slots of the standardsI8. The upper ends of the slots 58e are closed by the caps I8?) as shownin Fig. 2.

Each of the standards I8 is formed with a deep 1'..

slot Id disposed between and parallel to the lateral faces of thestandards, such slots ld being provided to receive in each standard aheddle bar hol-der 23 which is formed with a series of upstandingfingers 22, 24 and which is pivotally supported at its lower rear corneron a pin 25 extending transversely through the standard I8. A block 26of rubber or the like is cemented in the groove Idd to support the lowerfront corner of the holder 23 and serves to cushion and quiet the actionof the holder when it falls under the action of gravity, as will laterbe explained.

The holder 23 is preferably stamped from a metal sheet or plate to givethe fingers 24, 24 the form shown in Fig. 3. Each of four of the saidfingers is formed with a top edge or surface 22a adapted to support oneend of a heddle bar when the latter is in raised position and is alsoformed with a front edge or surface 22h which is disposed as shown inFig. 3 to be engaged by the top rear corner of the heddle bar when it israised from its lower position to its upper position and by suchengagement effect a backward swinging movement of the holder 23 on itspivot pin 25. :i

When the holder 23 is thus swung backward by the lifting of any one ormore of the heddle bars the iinger surfaces 24a are moved from beneathany heddle bars in raised position and the latter bars are permitted todrop into the slots between the fingers 24. The fifth or front linger ofthe support 23 extends forward from the standard I8 so that it can beengaged by the thumb or finger of the weaver to lift the holder 23 andrelease all heddle bars in the raised position and permit them to fallto their lower positions.

The front portion of the loom frame structure comprising beam 5, sidebars 6, 6 and standards I 3, I8 is strengthened by a cross rod 2l and across bar 28 which connect standards I8 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Bar28 is secured by removable screws 29 and can readily be detached ifdesired when the warp thread is being'wound upon the frame. The upperedge of bar 28 is slotted at 28a to receive and support a card bearingthe design or notations of the pattern to be woven,

In the loom illustrated each of the heddle bars 2I is fitted with aheddle cord 30 which is knotted at 33a, 30a to form a series of loops32h, 36D

The part Iia of each standard is Cil which loosely surround the heddlebar and a series of depending loops 32e, 30e, each of which passes undera warp thread zo and serves to lift the latter when the heddle bar israised. See Figs. 2 and 6.

The numeral 3I indicates as an entirety a combined beater and comb whichcomprises a rectangular frame structure 32 preferably formed of wood anda comb 33 mounted therein, the comb preferably being formed in one piecefrom compressed sheet fiber material. The top bar 32a of the frame 32 isremovably secured to the remainder of the frame by pins 34. When thedevice is used as a reed or beater the bar 32a is attached to the frame,as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but by removing said bar 32a the ends of thecomb teeth are exposed and the device is adapted to be used as a comb tofacilitate the winding and even spacing of the warp thread upon theframe of the loom. To accomplish this latter operation the beater isclamped to the cloth beam 5 by means of thumb nuts or bolts 35 carriedby the beam, the bottom bar of the frame 32 being formed with notches32h adapted to iit over the bolts 35 and suitably locate the beater.When the beater has thus been clamped in position its top bar 32a isdetached to expose the upper, free ends of the teeth of the comb so thatthe warp thread, when wound around the frame of the loom (as indicatedin Fig. 2), can have its successive turns disposed in the successiveslots of the comb and so be evenly spaced across the frame. After thewinding of the warp thread has been completed, the bar 32a is againattached to the beater frame and the beater is detached from the crossbar 5 and is thus rendered free to function as a beater.

The operation of the loom will readily be understood without extendedexplanation. When the loom is to be set up to weave a particular articlethe length of the rectangular frame of the loom is nrst adjusted, ifneed be, to provide for the desired length of the article, bearing inmind that its maximum length is the length-wise distance around the loomframe. Adjustment is facilitated if the frame is rst collapsed to aslightly shorter size than is desired and then extended to the desiredsize by manipulation of wing nuts I5, the scales 3c making it easy toadjust the two sides of the frame to equal lengths. This iinaladjustment may advantageously be made after the warp has been wound uponthe frame, as hereinafter indicated, so as to effect the desiredtensioning of the warp. It will be observed that adjustment of thelength of the loom frame does not change the distance between the frontbeam and the heddle bars since the heddle bar standards I8 are fixed inrelation to said beam. Hence, with any adjustment the operator caneasily reach and manipuJ late the heddle bars.

Next the heddle bars 2l are removed from the frame. This is accomplishedby moving the bars endwise through the slots Ic of the standards I8,such movement serving to engage the grips 22 at one' side of the loomagainst the adjacent standard to force said grips off their respectivebars. Cross bar 28 may also be removed from the frame if desired tofacilitate winding the warp upon frame I. Next, the beater is clamped tothe front beam 5 and its bar 32a is detached so that the slots of thecomb 33 can receive the Warp thread. The warp thread is now woundcontinuously around the loom frame, starting at or near one side thereofand with the successive turns of the thread in the successive slots ofthe comb so that the Warp is distributed evenly across the frame. Thetransverse point at which the Winding of the warp thread is started willdepend upon the Width of the cloth to be woven. 'I'he graduated scalesI6 and I1, as will readily be understood, facilitate the winding of thewarp thread so that the warp will be centered on the frame regardless ofthe Width of the Work. It is convenient to wind the warp on the framewith moderate tension and then establish the desired Working tension byadjusting the frame to a greater length.

The heddle bars may now be replaced with their respective heddle cordsmounted thereon in accordance with the pattern to be woven. Assuming,for example, that the cord of the first (front) heddle bar is to liftevery fourth thread or turn of the warp, the cord is stretched outacross the frame beneath the top flight of the Warp and the heddle baris inserted through its slot in one of the standards `I8 and threadedthrough the successive loops 30h of the cord .so that its loops 30C willengage every fourth thread of the warp. Then the leading end of theheddle bar is passed through itsslot in the other standardy I8 and itsgrip 22 replaced. The remaining heddle bars are assembled in acorresponding manner. Finally, the top bar 32a of the beater is restoredand the beater is detached from the front beam and the loom is ready forweaving. Y

In the weaving operation the shed is formed by manual lifting of one ormore of the heddle bars. The operator, by placing a finger beneath theend of each bar to be lifted can easily lift both ends of any one ormore of the bars simultaneously. When one or more of the heddle bars areso lifted the holders 23 are moved automatically, as previouslydescribed, so as to release vthe bar or bars which had been lifted toform the last preceding shed. If it is desirable at any time to lowerall of the heddle bars, the operator needs only to lift the frontfingers 24 of the two holders 23 and this allows any elevated heddlebars to fall.

It will now be apparent that a loom such as has been described, becauseof its simple construction, can have its parts formed and assembled atlow cost and,'for the same reason, can easily and rapidly be manipulatedin threading the loom and preparing for it for a particular piece ofweaving. Furthermore, its improved features of construction make theloom susceptible of easy operation at good speed to produce a widevariety of Work of excellent quality. No claim is made herein tofeatures of the loom frame construction not specifically concerned withthe shed-forming devices, as such features constitute the subject matterof a divisional application Serial No. 388,290, filed April 12, 1941.

`Whi1e the construction illustrated and described is such as I prefer,it is to be understood that my invention can be carried out with otherforms of construction within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claimis:

1. In a' loom, the combination of a frame structure comprising a heddlebar standard formed with a plurality of upright; transverse guide slots;a plurality of heddle bars, each slidably mounted for up and downmovement in one of the guide slots; and a heddle bar holder movablymounted on the said standard and having ya plurality of upstandingfingers each of which at its upper end normally extends across one ofthe guide slots and has a top surface adapted to support the heddle barin raised position in said slot and a lateral cam surface to be engagedby such heddle bar when said bar is manually raised from its lowerposition, whereby the upward movement of any of the heddle bars movesthe holder to release and lower all previously raised bars.

2. In a loom, a combination as defined in claim 1 in which the heddlebar standard is formed with a slot between its lateral faces and in aplane transverse to the heddle bars and the heddle bar holder is anoperatively rigid plate-like body disposed in the said slot.

3. In a loom, the combination of a frame structure comprising aheddlebar standard formed with a plurality of upright transverse guide slots;a plurality of heddle bars, each slidably mounted for up and downmovement in one of the guide slots; and a heddle bar holder pivotallymounted on the said standard to swing about a transverse axis and havinga plurality of upstanding fingers each of which at its upper endnormally extends across one of the guide slots and has a top surfaceadapted to support the heddle bar in raised position in said slot and alateral cam surface to be engaged by such heddle bar when said bar ismanually raised from its lower position, whereby the upward movement ofany of the heddle bars moves the pivotally mounted holder to release andlower all previously raised bars.

4. In a loom, a combination as defined in claim 3 in which the heddlebar standard is formed with a slot between its lateral faces and in aplane transverse to the heddle bars and the heddle bar holder is anoperatively rigid plate-like body disposed in the said slot and havingits pivotal support eccentric to its center of gravity, whereby saidsupport when manually turned to lower one or more heddle bars, isreturned by gravity to its normal position.

5. In a loom the combination of a frame structure `comprising a heddlebar standard formed with a plurality of upright transverse guide slotsthrough which the ends of heddle bars may pass; and a movable heddle barholder mounted in the standard, and having a plurality of upstandinglingers the upper end of each of which in one position of the holder islocated in one of the guide slots and is adapted to support the end of aheddle bar in a raised position in such slot and in another position islocated to one side of the guide slot to permit the heddle bar to dropto a lower position in such slot.

MILO O. GALLINGER.

